Thoughts for Life: Christ invites Us to Draw Near

Rich Carmicheal: Who our Lord Jesus Christ is, and because of what He is able to do, we can fully expect our fellowship with Him to impact our lives and ministries dramatically!

For example, consider the following needs and the truths embedded in the accompanying Scriptures: (Google image, Read the Bible!)

. . . Do you need joy? "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).

. . . Do you need peace? "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27); " . . . The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ" (Phil. 4:5-7); ". . . casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

. . . Do you need strength? "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).

. . . Do you need deliverance and spiritual freedom? "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-heated, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed" (Luke 4:18).

. . . Do you need healing? "And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all" (Luke 6:19); "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses" (Matt. 8:17); " . . . and by His stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5).

. . . Do you need provision? "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

. . . Do you need abundant life? " . . . I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

. . . Do you need help overcoming temptation? "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Heb. 2:18).

. . . Do you need spiritual victory? "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33); "And they overcame [the accuser of the brethren] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (Rev. 12:11).

. . . Do you need grace and mercy? "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:15-17).

. . . Do you need encouragement and comfort? "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts . . ." (2 Thess. 2:16-17).

. . . Do You need forgiveness? "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

. . . Do you need power for ministry? "To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily" (Cor. 1:29).

. . . Do you need restoration? "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Ps. 23:3).

. . . Do you need rest for your soul? "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).

. . . Do you need living water? " . . . If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37).

. . . Do you need spiritual sustenance? " . . . I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).

. . . Do you need intercession? " . . . He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25); " . . . It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Rom. 8:34).

. . . Do you need guidance? "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27).

. . . Do you need favor in prayer? "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).

As you fix your thoughts and heart on Christ and draw near to Him, may you experience greater blessings from Him than you can even anticipate! and, as He blesses your life, may the lives of others in turn be drawn to Him as they see Christ in you. And may it all be for the praise of His glory! - Rich Carmicheal

[Taken from Herald of His Coming newspaper, Vol 77, No 12 (924), p. 2. Used by permission.]

Let's pray-

Father, we admit to the above needs: joy, peace, strength, spiritual freedom, healing, provision, abundant life, overcoming temptation and the many other weaknesses we have.
We will look to You as the Provider for all of them, which Your Word amply shows us that You provide for Your believing children.
Thank You that Your Love is demonstrated in these promises You've given! Help us apply each one to our lives.
We pray in Jesus' name, to believe what Your Word says.
Amen.

Today's past post on prayer:

#107 United Fasting with Practical Suggestions

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: "Just as there are situations that call for united prayer, so there are needs that can be met only by adding united fasting to united prayer.

Unity in seeking God by fasting confers the same multiple dimensions of effectiveness as unity in seeking God by prayer alone, only more."

Today's quotes-

Victoria- "None of us deserve God's grace and the Word of God says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). God's forgiveness is a free gift that cost Him everything and He is waiting for us to receive it. And no matter what we have done, it is never too horrible to keep us from the love of God. For the Bible tells us that neither "height, nor depth . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God." (Romans 8:39).

God is abounding in His love for you and He wants you to receive it from Him no matter how you may have been treated by those professing to know Him. If they had truly known Him, they would have loved you. Indeed, you are the very apple of His eye. You are the sole purpose of Christ's death and resurrection. It was for you He died.

Please receive His gift of grace and allow Him to forgive you of your past and give you a fresh start for your future. This is what He wants to do for you. Don't deny Him the pleasure of touching your life today and making you brand new!"

Love and Blessings, Victoria www.victoriaboyson.com

~ Oswald Chambers- Everyone has been created with the ability to reach out beyond his own grasp. But it is God who draws me, and my relationship to Him in the first place is an inner, personal one, not an intellectual one. I come into the relationship through the miracle of God and through my own will to believe. Then I begin to get an intelligent appreciation and understanding of the wonder of the transformation in my life.

(From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition)

Today's question-

Why should Christians attend a local church?

It is the heart of God for His people to come together, because we need one another. This expressed in Jesus' prayer before the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane:

"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them even as You have loved Me." John 17:20-23 (NASB).

This unity was so near and clear to Jesus' heart that this was one of the last things He prayed before His death. This was His heart for the Church, His people. And unity can't be fully attained apart from relationship with one another. We need one another and the assembly of ourselves together (Heb. 10:25) is key in building relationship with His Bride, which hopefully will express itself in the prayer still on Jesus' hear today- "That they may be one, just as We are one."

The following are suggestions from friends, as to why Christians should attend church:

1. To feed their souls with God's Word through preaching
2. For Christian fellowship
3. Get re-focused on God
4. Worship God with other Christians of like faith
5. Give God devoted time solely to Him
6. Show publicly we're His followers
7. To bond with other Christians
8. Learn more about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit
9. To Praise God
10. To be a part of a local church community and find
ways to serve
11. Help in the training of their children about God

Healing Thoughts and Prayers Check out these posts. There may be some that answer some of your questions and needs.

Upcoming posts-

#5 Personality in Prayer

24th- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick

#6 Prayer Learned by Praying
24th- Thursday's post by Samuel Chadwick

Holiness or Wholly-ness
26th- Saturday's post by Lee Forbes

#7 Trained in Prayer
29th- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick